Education

4th grade

Learning about skulls
with 4th graders Willapa National Wildlife Refuge staff and Friends of Willapa NWR volunteers visit each area fourth grade classroom four times during each school year. Students are introduced to national wildlife refuges, birding, habitat types, and amphibians. Each spring, the same 4th graders are treated to an all-day field trip on the refuge. As of 2010, the program reaches out to all 4th grade classrooms in Pacific County and select classrooms elsewhere, touching over 200 students each year.

To volunteer for the 4th grade program, contact the Willapa Refuge Visitor Services Manager at 360-484-3482.

High School

High school volunteers helping at field trip

In high school, select students perform their community learning hours at the refuge. These students learn about the day to day operations of a national wildlife refuge and receive one on one time with Refuge staff. Other students participate in Ilwaco’s Natural Resources program. These students visit the Refuge with their instructor throughout the school year. At the end of the school year, these students serve as instructors for the 4th grade field trips passing their knowledge and experience on to younger students. The Friends of Willapa NWR also offer scholarships each year to area graduating seniors intending on a career in natural resources.

And beyond...

Volunteers remove gorse
from Refuge Learning should never stop! And the Refuge and Friends offer many adult education programs throughout the year. These programs may be tailored to specific issues such as salmon restoration, or on the refuge and wildlife in general.